marshman



( w .N, R, MARSHMAN.

TOYTHEATER.

No. 248,332; Patented Oct. 18,1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

NEWMAN R. MARSHMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TOY THEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,332, dated October 18, 1881.

Application filed March 17, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, NEWMAN R. MARsHMA a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York. have invented certain Improvements in Toy Theaters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of toys which represents a stage of a theater upon or across which figures move.

The novel features of the invention lie in certain mechanical devices and arrangements whereby transformations or movements are effected automatically by the rotation of a crank or shaft, giving to the scene and figures a life-like appearance.

Before describing my invention I wish to say that I do not limit myself to the particular scenic representation herein shown, nor to any particular number of transformation effects or figures. For convenience I have shown only enough of such effects and figures as will serve to illustrate my invention, and a stage of very limited dimensions. By increasing the size of the stage and background the effects and figures may be proportionately increased.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front View of the stage. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, showing also the mechanism behind the scenes. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken in the plane of the line 00 or in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detached detail view, on a larger scale, adapted to illustrate the mechanism for moving the head of the figure.

Let A represent a standing street-scene, showing houses, 860.; B B, wings of the same, which extend toward the front of the stage; and O, the stage, provided with one or more slots, a, in which the figures move in passing across the stage from wing to wing.

D is an endlessapron, preferablyof paper, which is mounted on rollers or drums b b, to one of which is attached a crank, c, or other means of producing rotary motion and cansing the apron or belt to move. These drums b are mounted in some convenient part of the frame or structure, and they may be driven by clock-work, if desired, either continuously or intermittently.

I will first describe the mode of mounting and operating the figures or actors d d. There may be one or more of these, according to circumstances, mounted at suitable points on the apron D, and in such positions as to be carried, when the apron moves, through the slot or slots a in the stage. The head of the figure is fixed on the upper extremity of a vertical wire or rod, 6, which may turn in the body fixed to the apron, and to the lower end of this wire is affixed a triangular block or foot, f. As the figure is borne along by the apron across the stage, the angles or corners of the block f strike projections g 9, arranged at suitable inand these, by turning the block first to one side and then to the other, cause the head of the figure to turn correspondingly, and thus impart a very lite-like appearance to the figure. I prefer a triangular block, as shown in Fig. 4, for this purpose; buta simple cross-piece would serve; or, in lieu of this, a horizontal wheel with a frictional periphery arranged to contact with and roll on suitable projecting ways, would serve to turn the head of the figure from side to side. This rotating device I prefer to arrange below the apron 1); but it might be arranged above, or a device for one figure above and for another below.

Where the figures pass through the wing B, I provide elastically-hinged doors h it, one arranged to open inward from the stage, and the other outward, as shown. Themoving figures push these open as they are borne along, and they close elastically behind the figures. I prefer for this purpose hinges of rubber on the door; but other elastic mediums may be used.

The transformation and other effects are produced by two mechanisms. One consists of slots or apertures 41 i in the apron D, through which weighted lever-arms lc drop at the appointed time or as the openings in the apron pass under them; and the other consists ofprojecti ons l, which rise above the surface of the apron and operate to open doors, ring bells, 860. I may use either or both of these means, and they are in some sense equivalents. [.3 Behind a window-opening, m, in the scene is arranged a slide, a, adapted to move up and down in suitable keepers, so as to represent a curtain or shade. This shade is connected by a rod, 0, with a crank-arm on a shaft,p, arranged horizontally in rotative bearings over the apron D behind the scene. The weighted arm is is also attached to this shaft, and when an aperture, t, in the apron is drawn under this weighted leverits extremity drops through. This movement acts through the rod 0 to throw up the slide a. Behind this slide, and opposite the window-opening, is a figure or head,

tervals along each side of its line of travel,

scene and provided with a self-closing cover.

In this box is a figure or head, 7*, fixed on one end of a lever, the other end of which is weighted and rests on the apron D. When an opening, t, is drawn under the weighted end of the lever the weight drops and the figureis thrown up,

raising the cover of the box and exposing itself to view. \Vhere several transformations of this nature are to be made the openings i are or may be made in different longitudinal planes in the apron. To give the apron stability and support, I generally arrange it to move over a stationary bed, 8, and mortise this bed at the points where the weighted levers are to fall through the apron.

Aprojection, 1, before mentioned,is arranged to strike a hammer-arm t, of a bell, u, and throw it back. As the projection pa ses the ham mer-arm the ham meriscaused to strike the bell a smart blow by means ofa spring in a wellknown way. By arranginga numherot' these projections to follow each other in quick succession the bell may be struck in a corresponding manner.

I may hinge a door in the s ene. and arrange a projection, l, or a weighted lever, to throw it open at the proper moment, so as to exhibit a figure in a manner similar to that shown for actuating the box-cover and window-shade. Indeed the taste and judgment of the workman would suggest an almost endless amplification of the transformations of which I have here given but samples.

As an equivalent of the endless apron D, I may employ a large disk or plate, arranged to rotate on a vertical axis, to carry the figures and actuate the transformations. In this case the figures would, of course, move in curves instead ot'in straight lines; and Imay employ several endless aprons, arranged side by side; but I find one apron to answer very well.

In lieu of weighted levers, to drop by gravity through apertures in a horizontalIy-arranged apron or plate, I may employ elastic pressure in lieu of gravity, and this would be the preferred form if the apron were arranged to move in a vertical or inclined plane.

It will be understood thatthe most essential feature of my invention is a moving apron, belt, or plate in a toy, provided with apertures, knobs, projections, &c.either one or more of these-for actuating mechanism which effects transformations; and I may employ beveledor other projections to effect the transformations shown as effected by the apertures in the apron; or some of the movements may be effected by one and some by the other-as, forexample, a projection on the apron may bearranged to lift a weighted lever and produce a transformation, and the same lever may be arranged to drop through an aperture, and thus produce a second transformationone by lowering and the other by raising the slide.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a toy, a traveling apron or plate provided with apertures or projections, or both, arranged to actuate moving parts for producing transformation effects, 850., substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. As a means for producing transformation effects in a toy, an apertured traveling apron or plate, arranged to pass under arms or levers connected with the moving parts in the scene, and said arms or levers arranged to drop through apertures in said apron, and thus actuate the said moving parts automatically, substantially as set forth.

3. As a means for producing transformation effects in a toy, an apertured traveling apron or plate, arms or levers connected with the moving parts in the scene and arranged to drop into the apertures in the apron as they pass. and projections on the said apron, arranged to act upon the hammer-arm of a bell. to ring the same and attract attention to the transformation, substantially as set forth.

4. In a toy theater, employing a moving apron or plate to bear the figure or figures across the stage, the means for turning the head of the figure from side to side, which consists-of a central rod on which the head of the figure is fixed and which turns in the body of the figure, a block or cross-piece on the other end of said rod, and projections arranged in the path of the figure to engage said block or piece alternately, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with the fixed scene of a toy theater, of a slide, a, arranged behind 'an opening in said scene, a rod, 0, connected with said slide, a cranked shaft, 1), connected with said rod 0, and having an arm, k, to rest upon a traveling apron or plate, and a traveling apron or plate provided with apertures or projections, or both, to actuate said arm k, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination, with the traveling belt or plate and a figure or figures, d, borne by the same across the stage, of a self-closing door or doors, h, in the wing or wings, arranged to be pushed open by the said figure as it is borne along, substantially as set forth.

7. In a toy theater, a traveling belt or plate arranged to bear a figure 'or figures across a.

stage before'a scene and to produce transformation effects in the said scene simultaneously, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NEWMAN R. MARSHMAN. witnessesz' HENRY Oomvnrr, ARTHUR C. FRASER. 

